In many regards, the aging of societies is overwhelmingly good news. Most people welcome the improvements in life expectancy realized in recent decades, especially because they are largely due to the elimination of diseases like smallpox and control of those like polio and malaria. For centuries, human beings have struggled to eliminate and control diseases and conditions that led to early death. The accelerated advances in hygiene and health sciences during the twentieth century and their effects on our lives are beyond the stretch of the wildest imagination of our forebears at the beginning of the last millennium, or even the last century. More recent progress in combating heart disease, cancer, and chronic conditions is both extending life and improving its quality. The advances leading to longer life spans in wealthy nations have generally spread to less wealthy societies, improving life for those citizens as well.

Another phenomenon, largely of twentieth century origins, that accompanied the aging of our societies was the evolution of organized retirement programs. Today, the prevalence and structure of these retirement programs, in conjunction with the aging of national populations, are raising concerns about the cost burdens ahead. Analysts believe the combination of an aging society and the promise of retirement benefits may cause economic difficulties in many countries.

Like improvements in health and longevity, the evolution of retirement programs is very good news in most regards.